The Government of Saskatchewan is proposing to amend legislation on a few topics, one of which is changing the parameters around the seizure of criminal property.

The Seizure of Criminal Property Amendment Act was introduced Wednesday and aims to redefine the parameters that the justice system has when seizing criminal property.

Under the new amendment, crimes relating to vehicle owners with a history of impaired driving suspensions, gangs or terrorist organizations involving prohibited or restricted firearms, sexual offences, and property previously subject to a community safety order.

Minister of Corrections and Policing Christine Tell said that while vehicles of those caught driving while impaired would be impounded, she highly doubts a first time offender would have their vehicle be subject to civil forfeiture.

"I mean the vehicle will be seized according to the impound rules, but with respect to it then being made available to civil forfeiture for one offence... I would highly doubt it."

Tell said that all of the property seized would go towards benefiting Saskatchewan.

"The seizure of all this property, with respect to civil forfeiture, goes to victims programs, victims funding, police operations, that type of thing, so it does really go back into the good of the whole community."

Responding to concerns of civil forfeiture possibly being able to take too much when dealing with a criminal act, Tell said that it was a cut and dry case when it comes to determining if something is an instrument of criminal activity.

"I don't think we've had any instances, unless someone is just taking exception to it being seized and forfeited period, that they'll make those arguments that you are taking too much, when in actual fact, we have a case, an allegation, or a criminal conviction for that matter."

Tell also said that the newly-proposed addition to the legislation is long overdue.

"It didn't involve the sexual offences, it didn't involve the vehicles, the vehicles to me, make perfect sense, and it should have been in there a long time ago, but having said that, never too late, and let's get going."

Another amendment proposed the same day was also pertaining to the justice system, The Police (Regional Policing) Amendment Act which aims to allow smaller municipalities to participate in regional police services.

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